ElementaryBox October 2014 Review

ElementaryBox(one word, not a typo!) is a new monthly subscription box for all of those hard-working teachers out there. Each box is customized to the recipient’s grade level and includes a teaching tool to use in the classroom, a reward/motivator for the students, a handcrafted gift, as well as teaching ideas & tips. It makes a great gift, whether it’s for your child’s teacher, or you happen to be an educator yourself.

Subscriptions are $29/month for 6 or 12 months (free shipping) or $29 for a one time box (plus shipping). Purchase an annual membership and get 1 month free!

I could have sworn I took a photo of the outer box, but alas, I did not. So here’s the little note that was enclosed instead. My girls are still too young for preschool, so for now I, Mrs. Rose, am their teacher. (Poor kiddos!)

First look. So many squigglies!

Pasted to the inside lid of the box was this helpful sheet of classroom behavior ideas/tips. It also included a list of classroom-friendly learning apps.

Spectrum First Words Flash Cards – I started using flash cards with my girls before they turned 2, and this is the exact pack that I bought them. (What are the odds?) I love the colorful illustrations on the front and the fact that they keep the girls entertained long enough to get through all 54 cards. Sometimes they want to play with them on their own, but give a toddler 54 of anything and you’ll only be able to locate 3 at most by the end of the day. BUT now that we have an extra set, I’m willing to let them loose with the other.

Slide n’ Spell Cards Short Vowels – I read the directions for this a few times and I’m still not 100% sure how this works. I do know that it involves spelling words using 5 animal slide cards, 15 beginning consonant letter strips, and 5 ending consonant letter strips. (That’s what the package says anyway.) It actually looked a lot simpler until I read the instructions. I definitely wouldn’t cut it as a teacher.

Spectrum Numbers 0-25 Flash Cards – The girls are taking more interest in numbers lately (they’ve pretty much nailed the alphabet already), so these will be great to help them along. They include a series of cute illustrations on one side, and the corresponding number of illustrations on the other.

Halloween Prize Pack Stickers – I always loved getting stickers on my completed assignments in school. Especially holiday-themed ones! This is a set of 24 sticker sheets, with 9 stickers on each page — for a total of 216 in all.

Fall Feather Pens & Recycled Pen Holder – These are my favorite items in the box. Handmade feather-adorned pens wrapped in textured brown tape to resemble sticks. So festive and autumnal! The recycled tin can pen holder is both cute and eco-friendly. Yay!

October’s ElementaryBox had a nice assortment of classroom-inspired goodies that would be great for teachers and appreciated by non-teachers (like me) as well. I didn’t do a cost breakdown, since the box is more about the curation of the items. Plus, the inclusion of a handcrafted gift every month makes it hard to put a true value on.

October 2014 ElementaryBox Review

Summary

I've never reviewed a box for teachers, so this was fun to get. The items were all great for kindergarten aged kids and I'll even be able to use some with my 2 year olds to give them a head-start. The inclusion of a handmade gift was a nice touch!